Notes from a beginning gardener with sprinkles of poetry and philosophic musings

Sunday, July 16, 2017

July GBBD: Mid-Summer Perfection

Most gardeners are never satisfied. They always see some plant in their garden that should be pruned back or even removed, or they want to do a complete makeover of all or part of their garden. I'm no exception, but if there is one time of year when I sit back and say, "Wow, I love my garden!" then it is now. Right now I can look at my garden without thinking I need to add something here or there or focusing on the weeds; instead I am just enjoying it. Daylilies and coneflowers are at their peak, and the garden is a riot of clashing, but gorgeous color right now.

When it comes to daylilies, I throw out any color scheme and plant according to height and wherever I can find an empty spot of soil to plant "just one more." I don't even remember planting these yellow lilies, nor do I remember where they came from, so it's just a happy accident that the hot pink phlox in the back provide some contrasting color.

I do remember the names for many of my daylilies, however, especially what I call my "literary lilies," plants I purchased solely because of their names, not their appearance. 'Tennyson' is one of those who also happens to be beautiful.

'Divine Comedy' is another.

And there is my personal favorite, 'Mistress Prynne,' who is just starting to bloom.

There are several others with literary names that I won't take time to show you today, including 'Romeo Lies Bleeding,' a red lily with a yellow throat and edging. I searched and searched for a Juliet to go with him, but had no luck. So when I found this one-of-a-kind hybrid at a local daylily farm, I bought her and named her Juliet myself. You won't find her registered anywhere; she only grows in my garden! The daylily growers hydbridize many lilies and then decide which ones they want to propagate. "Juliet" didn't pass the test, so that is why she is one of a kind, but I think they made a mistake--she is a fair beauty and frankly, surpasses 'Romeo' in size and number of flowers.

'Yellow Pinwheel' doesn't have any literary connections, but I couldn't resist this tall, large beauty. It's supposed to be a later lily, which is why I purchased it, but it's early this year. So many plants in my garden this year seem a little off schedule.

There are also so many NOIDs in my garden, some because I simply have forgotten their names and some because they were passalongs. Above is one of the lilies given to me by my aunt, so I simply call them "Nettie's Rubies."

This is a passalong from friend Beckie, who can't remember its name. I usually gravitate toward pastel colors in lilies, but this dark bloomer has really grown on me--its throat positively glows in the sunlight.

Another no-name; I think it also was a one-time hybrid from the daylily farm.

Another one-time hybrid I planted several years ago that I named "Prairie Sunrise." My friend Beckie and I have purchased several of these hybrids over the years, partly because they're a bargain, and partly because it's fun to name them ourselves, knowing we have something unique in our gardens.

I won't take time to show all my daylilies here, or this post would be much too long, but I have to share this one. This beauty just appeared this year--I swear I have never seen it before, and I'm 99% positive I didn't plant it. I'm thinking it might be a volunteer that is the result of cross-pollination between two nearby lilies. I suppose I'll never know, but it's a welcome addition to the garden!

Besides the daylilies Hemerocallis, a few Orienpets are also blooming. This is supposed to be 'Black Beauty,' but I'm not so sure.

Now this is the color 'Black Beauty' is supposed to be, I believe. Perhaps a case of mislabeled bulbs or my faulty memory--it really doesn't matter, I enjoy them both.

The Orientals are also beginning to bloom including 'Salmon Surprise,' which is having to fight for room among the spreading coneflowers.

Lilies aren't the only blooms in my garden right now, however. Blackberry Lily, Iris domestica, took awhile to get established in my garden, but now it is spreading, which makes me happy.

Phlox, including the white 'David' and an unknown pink, provide a lovely backdrop for shorter blooms in the Arbor Bed.

Hydrangeas are just starting to bloom as well. This is a new cultivar given to me by a friend who is with Bailey Nurseries, called 'Bloomstruck.' It's supposed to be an improved version of 'Endless Summer,' producing more blooms, but what has struck me so far this year is that the blooms really are blue! In my alkaline soil, "blue" hydrangeas always turn pink. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this stays blue.

Another new bloom in my garden--the first time I've been successful with Crocosmia. I think this is 'Lucifer,' but I'm not sure.

And, of course, no summer Bloom Day post would be complete without showing off my beloved purple coneflowers, Echinacea purpurea.

While originally planted in the Sidewalk Garden in the previous photo and in the Roadside Garden, they have spread to most other flowerbeds as well, including the Arbor Bed above. I know many of you have commented that you have no luck in growing these, and while I'd like to take credit for my success with them, the fact is, they simply like Illinois prairie soil. And yes, I know this area is reaching jungle proportions--the result of my habit of plopping new plants in any bare inch of soil I can find😊

Occasionally, I dig up volunteer seedlings and share them others, but I have a hard time thinning these out, because the bees and butterflies love them.

Sadly, I haven't seen many butterflies this summer other than the Red Admirals.

But look what else has been enjoying the coneflowers! You may have to enlarge the photo to see him, but this little hummingbird has been sampling them the last few days--I've never seen a hummingbird in the coneflowers before.

Coneflowers are usually a butterfly magnet, and my patience finally paid off yesterday when the first Monarch since spring arrived. I certainly hope to see more of these as the summer continues.

There is so much more going on in my garden right now that I haven't included here, but if you're in the neighborhood, stop by! I can't think of a better time in my garden than mid-July.

As always, I'm a day late to the party known as Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, but I have a feeling this party is going to go on for awhile. Thanks, as always, to our hostess Carol of May Dreams Gardens.

Thanks, Dorothy. Yes, we do have a few plants in common. Illinois summers can be almost as humid as Houston's, though I know we're a little cooler. Heading into the 90's this week with heat indexes in the 100's so I won't be doing much gardening then!

Isn't funny that your daylilies are just at peak. Mine are done basically. Just the tall lilies are blooming now. I love your amalgamation of cone flowers etc is marvelous. No wonder the butterflies, bees etc are happy to be there. Yummmy.

Lisa, I've had daylilies blooming for awhile, but they are all blooming now, my favorite time of year, next to spring tulip time. Every year I think I should thin out the coneflowers in the sidewalk garden to create more variety there, but then the butterflies and the bees arrive, and I'm content with the way they are.

Your garden is really wonderful, Rose. I love all daylilies especially the photo#3. The hydrangea 'Bloomstruck' is pretty, I wait for blooming of mine. You've been lucky with Crocosmia, I always have problem with its storing in winter. I think you don't need to dig up crocosmia for winter :-) It's Lucifer, you're right. Happy GBBD!

I'm not surprised your daylilies are finished, Jeannie; I'm enough farther north of you that my blooms are a few weeks later than yours. Enjoyed seeing your last few daylilies and the coneflowers, too!

You should be pleased; everything looks stunning. You just can't have a Midwestern garden without daylilies and you have some real beauties. Plus I often buy - or won't buy - plants based on name or some other quirky thing, so I love your literary lilies.

Linda, besides my daylilies, I have some Heucheras that I bought because of their names--'Creme Brulee' and 'Tiramisu,' for example. But I refuse to buy coneflowers with names like 'Tomato Soup' or 'Mac and Cheese':)

Rose, your daylilies are absolutely spectacular! I still have a few blooms on some, surprisingly. I'm so glad you stopped by My Corner of Katy! Hey, I have one suggestion for you: I think it's time for you to change your blog header ... you are long past being a beginning gardener!

I just love when the garden becomes a riot of color! You have so many gorgeous daylilies! I am not as big a fan of daylilies in my garden, but I think it is because I don't have such pretty colored ones. How fun to collect literary named ones! I just love your orienpet lilies too. I wish I could grow them, but I just have too much wildlife, sadly, which would eat them. Thankfully Purple Coneflower grows well here - they have to grow faster than the groundhogs eat them! How cool that you have a hummingbird that visits them!

Indie, I started with a few daylilies given to me by my aunt, and then I added a couple more. Before I knew it, I was hooked:) I haven't had a problem with wildlife bothering them, though the Japanese beetles this year have been bad, and they've been on plants I've never seen them bother before, including the lilies. The hummingbird was a surprise--I've never seen them interested in coneflowers before!

Thanks, Lee. This is the time of year when I just sit back and enjoy, rather than work very much in the garden, so I appreciate all these colorful blooms. It's just too darned hot to spend much time outside!

Your garden looks absolutely wonderful. I'm impressed by how upright your Ratibida look. I'm always struggling with mine to keep them from flopping. You have an amazing selection of daylilies - I especially like 'Tennyson'. I miss my Purple Coneflowers after seeing your photos. Few plants have such all around appeal to birds, bees, and butterflies.

Jason, I don't have too many problems with flopping plants in the butterfly garden--maybe because it's so densely planted, everything props each other up:) You're right about the coneflowers--they are pollinator magnets. I saw my first black swallowtail on them yesterday.

Ah Rose, your post is a breath of fresh air. I can just smell the daylilies and lilies in bloom. Since my daylilies and lilies are basically finished, I am so enjoying yours. I agree that in summer I don't see too much work to do. I did notice I have a bunch of spent scapes though that need to be cut. That's on tomorrow's agenda. I've been spending a lot of time in vegetable garden this week keeping it looking good, and I'm pretty happy with it for now. I'm not seeing very many butterflies, or any bugs actually, either. The squash bugs just now showed up, and they are quite late. I did see one Gulf Fritillary yesterday and a swallowtail of some type. My phlox is just blooming me as no pollinators are hanging out. It's weird and a bit scary. Hugs. ~~Dee

Thanks, Dee. I have lots of deadheading to do, too, but that's usually at the bottom of my priority list. There have been days when I've seen more butterflies, but still not as many as usual. Squash bugs are another story--ugh, they've invaded my zucchini!

Hi Rose: What would summer be without lilies and daylilies? You have an amazing collection. Your coneflowers look great, too. I have some Echinacea plants in bright sun, but believe it or not, I'm even getting some to bloom in dappled shade. I'm so happy about that. They are such reliable North American beauties. :)

I agree, Beth; though I have many other flowers blooming at the moment, it is the lilies and coneflowers that really catch the eye. I have a few coneflowers in shade, too. They're in my roadside garden, where I used to have a lot, but I think the growing shade is making it harder for them to thrive there.

Your Coneflowers are really making the wildlife happy. Love the shot with the hummingbird. And your Daylilies are amazing! Looks like you are at the peak of Daylily season. Also, your Ratibida look very upright - so I guess you don't have to give them any support?

Jason, I can always count on the coneflowers to bring out lots of visitors. Not so many butterflies lately, but the goldfinches have now arrived and are enjoying the seedheads. The Ratibida do stay upright without any problem, probably because that area is so crowded, other plants keep them propped up:)

About Me

I am a "late bloomer" when it comes to gardening. Born and raised on a farm, I have returned to my country roots. Recently retired, I am looking forward to being able to do all the things I always wanted to do but never had enough time. That includes gardening, of course!